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Insurance
Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.
FAIR PREMIUMS
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FULL DISCLOSURE
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Another Step for Small-biz Health Bill
<p class="source">CFO.com</p>
<p>"When 45 million Americans cannot afford health care at same time health insurance profits triple, we clearly need more regulation to bring prices down, not less," said Jerry Flanagan of the foundation, in a statement. "Under the guise of making health care affordable, S.1955 encourages HMOs and insurers to sell coverage that provides no benefit guarantees. This bill does nothing to address out-of-control health care costs -- like health insurance overhead and profits -- which are now the fastest-growing component of health care spending."</p>
Health-Care Bill Passes Senate Committee
<p class="source">Inc. Com</p>
<p>"This bill has been sold as a way for small-business owners to lower health-care costs," said Jerry Flanagan, health-care policy director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer-rights group. "But this is all about giving more power to HMOs and insurance companies. It will give insurers more power to raise rates."</p>
Editorial: Auto insurance overhaul;
<h3>Premiums will depend more on driving record</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>For auto insurance buyers, the most important thing to understand is that under the Garamendi rules, where a driver lives will still count. It just won't count more than, say, whether a driver caused an accident last year. That's both fair and reasonable. It's also what the law requires.</p>
Senate looking at new insurance options for small businesses
<p class="source">Associated Press</p>
<p>Critics say that letting insurers bypass state protections gives consumers a false sense of security. "People will think they have coverage, but when you need health care, when you need treatment, your insurance company will say, 'no, look at the fine print,'" said Jerry Flanagan, spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Los Angeles-based advocacy group.</p>
Health-insurance bill gains traction
<p class="source">The Wall Street Journal </p>
<p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer group in Santa Monica, Calif., complained that the legislation could mean the loss of state protections such as California's requirement that women have a right to visit a gynecologist. "A panoply of patient services could... be eviscerated," including the right to a second opinion from a doctor, the group said. </p>
Terminating Food Warning Labels
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">California's Congressional
Delegation remarked yesterday that California's Gov was remarkably
silent as the House of Representatives passed legislation preventing
California from warning...</font>
Automobile Rates & Good Driver Discount Plan
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State-run auto plan expands in area;
<h3>LOW-COST POLICIES FOR SOME DRIVERS</h3>
<p class="source">
San Jose Mercury News (California)
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Doug Heller, executive director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the low-cost program is making the roads safer for all drivers. But it shouldn't be seen as a panacea for all people. "This is not something you shop for if you already have insurance and you're getting by,'' Heller said. "This is for people who can't afford to buy insurance, or who have been stuck with the decision to either driver illegally or not drive at all.''
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